Compare towns
Ashby vs Halifax vs Hanson vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashby | Halifax | Hanson | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
7,748 |
10,660Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.